Pittsburgh Steelers legend and Hall of Famer Jack Ham was in Seattle as a color analyst for the Penn State Sports Network, ahead of the Penn State vs. Washington football game. However, the situation in Husky Stadium took a concerning turn when the 77-year-old former NFL star had an unspecified medical emergency.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
“Prayers up for Penn State and Steelers legend Jack Ham,” Penn State alum and college football analyst Landon Tengwall posted on X. “Penn State Athletics reported he had a medical emergency earlier today and was transported to University Washington Medical Center.”
What happened to Ham remains undisclosed for now. According to PSU head coach Matt Campbell’s statement in the press conference after the game, Ham’s broadcast partner, Steve Jones, made a “heroic effort” attending to the situation. Campbell confirmed that Ham is now in a stable condition.
Ham has been calling the games on radio for Penn State since 2000. Jones, who does play-by-play, also began covering home football games the same year. The two clearly share a deep bond.
“Jack Ham and I have had a front-row seat to history,” he said in an interview with Penn State Wilkes-Barre. “We’ve been there for Joe Paterno’s 324th win, his 400th win, his 409th, Larry Johnson going over 2,000 yards in a season, the three-overtime Orange Bowl, the four-overtime win over Michigan.”
Ham, of course, is otherwise celebrated in Pittsburgh history, where he played for 12 seasons. He was one of the fastest players on the Steelers defense and did not adhere to the brash style of defensive play that was the norm at the time. Yet, he was known as ‘The Hammer.’ Ham made the Pro Bowl eight consecutive times and won four Super Bowls with the Steelers.
He finished his career with 32 total interceptions, which is the second-most among linebackers in the Super Bowl era, per The Athletic. He has also recorded 53 turnovers, the most by a linebacker in history. He also had 25 sacks, per The Athletic (sacks were not an official stat until 1982, right about the time Ham wrapped up his career).
Quietly, Jack Ham made plays that helped the Steelers on their great runs in those days. One instance dates back to 1975, according to former Pittsburgh Steelers defender Andy Russell. The Steelers were playing the San Diego Chargers, and the duo were on the sidelines talking about Ham’s involvement with the coal business. The Chargers then marked an interception, and Ham was sent off to try and stop their drive.
“The first play the Chargers ran was a sweep to the right,” Russell wrote, per the Steelers’ official website. “Bad idea. Ham took their giant tight end, threw him aside, speared the runner behind the line of scrimmage causing him to fumble, which of course Jack recovered. As he slowly walked off the field, he casually flipped the ball to the ref. Returning to our position on the sideline, Jack turned to me smiling and said, ‘Where was I?'”
Moments like that made Ham such an important figure in Pittsburgh history, and that of Penn State, his alma mater. His medical emergency was therefore very concerning to learn.
Campbell Talks About What Jack Ham Means to Penn State
During his post-game speech, Matt Campbell expressed how the Nittany Lions feel about Jack Ham, as he dedicated their 28-25 win to the Penn State alumnus and prayed for his speedy recovery.
“What I was really proud of our football team, and we talked about [it] a little bit before we went out to the game, just the courage of our kids to play with what Jack Ham means to Penn State football,” Campbell added. “How that guy played the game, how that guy still to this day serves our football program. It was awesome to be able to go win the football game for him and his family. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with him on a full recovery.”
Ham was a standout outside linebacker for the Penn State Nittany Lions and played under legendary head coach Joe Paterno. He was not even a highly sought-after recruit, but he left as one of the best players of the team at that time. He is a big reason why Penn State was known as Linebacker U at the time.
Across his three seasons with the university, Ham led the Lions to an astounding 29-3 record. He made 1970 Consensus All-America honors, and recorded 251 tackles. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft.
The Nittany Lions rallied to honor their program hero.
“(Campbell) just lit a fire under us to go out there to play for (Ham), but to play for us as well,” Rocco Becht said after the game, via The Collegian. “I think we had so much confidence going into this game, and that just sparged it up a little bit more.”
“Man, I think the victory shows that his spirit was with us, and man, he was playing through us,” safety Jamison Patton added. “We’re happy that he’s healthy and doing better in a stable condition.”
Here’s wishing the heroic player a speedy recovery.